Interim Consultant – Housing Surveying Review, Market Research & Future Operating Model
Outside IR35 | 4-month contract initially | £500–£600 per day
Mainly remote with occasional site visits
We are seeking an experienced independent consultant to lead a comprehensive review of our Housing Surveying function. This assignment will shape the future operating model of the service, ensuring compliance, resilience, and forward-looking capability across surveying, project delivery, and regulatory requirements.
About the Assignment
You will undertake a full diagnostic assessment of the current service, benchmark against comparable local authorities, and provide a costed, evidence-based roadmap for service improvement. Your work will directly support strategic decision-making and future workforce planning.
Key Objectives
*Review the current operating environment, service performance, and organisational structure.
*Assess compliance, risk, and operational effectiveness.
*Conduct market and peer benchmarking across at least six comparable councils.
*Recommend future workforce, technology, process, and operating model requirements.
*Produce a costed implementation and improvement plan.
Scope of Work
1. Discovery & Diagnostics
*Analyse structures, workflows, documentation and 12–24 months of service data.
*Assess demand, productivity, capacity, and quality.
*Lead interviews/workshops with internal stakeholders and associated teams.
2. Compliance & Risk
*Review compliance against key regulations including the Building Safety Act, CDM 2015, fire safety, asbestos, gas, electrical, and legionella requirements.
*Assess competence, QA processes, and risk controls.
*Identify gaps and provide mitigation recommendations.
3. Operating Model & Capacity Planning
*Evaluate workforce capacity, caseloads, skills and future demand pressures.
*Consider in-house, outsourced and hybrid delivery options.
*Provide a structured options appraisal.
4. Process, Quality & Performance
*Map and redesign processes to remove inefficiencies.
*Recommend performance metrics and a full KPI framework.
*Strengthen quality assurance and control mechanisms.
5. Technology & Data
*Review current systems, mobile tools, data quality, and integrations.
*Recommend improvements and future technology requirements.
*Provide data standards, templates and governance guidance.
6. Commercial & Financial Analysis
*Analyse current and demand-driven costs, inefficiencies, and value opportunities.
*Recommend commercial and contracting models.
7. Market & Peer Benchmarking
*Benchmark 6–10 councils on structure, compliance, productivity, technology, and workforce models.
*Research emerging sector roles, regulatory changes, salary benchmarks and digital innovation.
8. Future Planning
*Develop a future workforce strategy (3–5 years, with 10-year horizon).
*Provide a skills framework aligned to emerging building safety, disrepair, damp & mould and HHSRS changes.
*Produce a costed, prioritised roadmap for transformation.
Consultant Requirements
*Proven expertise in organisational review, research, analysis and diagnostic assessments.
*Extensive knowledge of local authority housing, especially surveying, property safety, maintenance, and capital works.
*Professionally qualified surveyor with CIOB or RICS accreditation (essential).
*Strong judgement, problem-solving skills and experience leading challenging discussions with operational and senior stakeholders.